Josh Freed: Casserole Concertos new tourist draw for city

Josh Freed, The Gazette06.02.2012

Riot police rush students standing on the corner of Mansfield and St. Catherine's in Montreal Quebec on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.Peter McCabe / THE GAZETTE

A masked protester looks down a side street off Rene Levesque Blvd. in Montreal Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Students and supporters took part in a protest march to fight the Quebec government's Bill 78 and the planned university tuition increases. The event marked the 100th day of a student strikes.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

Students and supporters walk north on Berri St. as they take part in a protest march to fight the Quebec government's Bill 78 and the planned university tuition increases. The event marks the 100th day of a student strikes in Montreal Tuesday, May 22, 2012.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

A protester chants on Rene Levesque Blvd. in Montreal Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Students and their supporters took part in a protest march to fight the Quebec government's Bill 78 and the planned university tuition increases. The event marked the 100th day of a student strikes.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

Masked protesters walk on Ste. Catherine St. west a little east of Guy St. in Montreal Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Students and supporters took part in a protest march to fight the Quebec government's Bill 78 and the planned university tuition increases. The event marked the 100th day of a student strikes.John Kenney/THE GAZETTE

MONTREAL - Forget the Quiet Revolution that rocked our province during the early 1960s.

This is the Noisy Revolution of 2012 as our pot-banging, casserole clamour goes on.

Many people I know see the events as a festive city-wide Tam- Tams. But many others say it’s driving them potty.

Either way, we’ll be hearing this clatter lots longer now that negotiations have broken down. Student leaders are planning to bring their tinpot protests to Montreal’s summer festivals and drown them out in the din. I’m not worried about the coming Grand Prix, which can easily defend itself against any noisemakers. Even 8 million pot-pounders couldn’t drown out those Formula One engines – though I wouldn’t mind if they did.

But I am worried about all our other festivals. Advance ticket sales this year are already way down for many events – as coverage of our street battles gets broadcast all over the globe. I’ve had calls from friends in Canada, the U.S. and England asking if it’s safe to visit here this summer.

We can’t just ignore the protests – they’re everywhere – so why not embrace them and build them right into this summer’s festival PR?

Let’s promote our city’s exciting new image instead of hiding from it, by advertising some new summer festivities like:

The festival of the casserole: The first day of pot-banging, our marchers just made an unholy, unharmonious clatter. Now, with 10 days of practice, they’re getting pretty good – and sounding more like a high school drum band.

The Jazzfest should just add them to their program with a new Festival of The Casseroles – a “pot-rattling musical genre found only in Montreal.” I can already see the PR brochure:

“This year only – free casserole concerts every night from 8 p.m.–8:30 all over town. As well, you never know when a tinpot trio, or a casserole quartet or a whole orchestra spontaneously shows up on your street, or at your hotel, adding to the fun.

“See the UQAM Marching Casserole and Fry Pan Band. Thrill to the CEGEP de Vieux Montreal pot-smoking pot band. See a special MSO presentation – the Casserole Concertos with guest conductor Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. Bring your own pot and join the festivities. If you don’t have a pot, bring your pot belly.

The festival of protest: Remember the film Network, when people all screamed out their windows: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Well, that’s what’s happening here in Montreal – whatever THAT is. Every night people flood their balconies and streets to protest whatever’s on their mind: tuition hikes, government corruption, Bill 78, the environment, the economy or the state of Les Canadiens. So let’s spread the word everywhere about out Festival of Protest.

“Come to Montreal and complain – because we’re listening. Our festival drivers will pick you up at your hotel and provide you with top quality pots and Montreal™ wooden spoons. Then they’ll whisk you by limo to the nearest demo for a night of revelry.

“Join the crowd and vent your frustration, whether you’re mad at your $40,000 U.S, tuition, or your lack of decent medical care, or just at the rich, or your spouse, or your mortgage.

“Once the demo is over, you can cool off at a lively “après-manif” party – or watch a helicopter light show that goes on till all hours. Why go Internet dating, or bar-hopping when you can hook up with like-minded marchers on the streets – and go demo-dating?

“Occupy Montreal” this summer!

Memories of Paris festival: Most summers our city’s tourist ads say: “Come to the Paris of North America” – and go on about our French passion, French food and French style. But this year we can sell a more exciting Paris – the Paris of May 1968 that many socialists in France would love to come and relive. Here’s our pitch to them:

“Re-live Paris of 1968, the famous summer of revolution in your youth. Just like Paris back then we offer exciting student protests and police street battles with leftists – all in a Paris-style Latin Quarter of our own.

“Just like Paris of ’68 our protesters are backed by big unions hoping to topple the government. Maybe you’ll catch a sudden election – or even a revolution. We also have nude marches, environmental protests, police barricades, smoke bombs and many other attractions.

“So aux barricades, touristes! Join the CLASSE struggle in Montreal. Take a revolutionary holiday in a city that offers rebellion and safety in a single package! You’ll almost believe you are in Paris of ’68. All that’s missing is the berets.

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